A Russian man held captive for 15 years in Georgia, where he was allegedly used as a slave, was handed over to Russia by Abkhazian security services. Vladimir Obidin, 68, was detained March 6 in a village after he crossed the border between Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia. …

The United States will host a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday aimed at relaunching talks on Palestinian statehood after a 7-year break.Here is a timeline of events in Middle East peacemaking.

As Russia deployed additional troops to the Abkhazian conflict zone, Tbilisi has tossed around war rhetoric about Abkhazia. Georgia asserts that Russia has stationed dozens of armor and artillery systems in the territory of Abkhazia and posted 200 land troops in Ochamchire.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group said on Sunday a U.S.-hosted Middle East peace conference this week was only a “media show” in support of Israel.

As Arab ministers fly in to Washington for this week’s Annapolis conference on making peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the most notable absentee is Hamas, winner of last year’s Palestinian general election.

According to Russian sources, particularly the newspaper “Kommersant” earlier owned by Boris Berezovsky, the former Minister of CHRI FM Ahmed Zakaev has declared himself the “prime minister” of Ichkeria.

Most Palestinians are skeptical Tuesday’s Annapolis peace conference can speed the creation of a state of their own but many still hope it may lead to improvements in living conditions and security.

Russian riot police beat opposition activists on Sunday and detained nearly 200 people at protest rallies against President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, Russia’s second city.

The statement is aired by the press service of the Caucasian Emirate.  In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful.

The Soviet Union’s former KGB chief Vladimir Kryuchkov, one of Russia’s most influential hardline spy masters, has died aged 83, Russia’s foreign intelligence service said on Sunday.